Fixed My Phone

Mar. 28th, 2026 09:32 pm
days_unfolding: (Default)
[personal profile] days_unfolding
Woke up at 8 AM. Let the dogs out. Fed myself and the cats. I think that I might have fixed my phone, but I need to log onto my work phone and test it. Yep, it’s working. Yay!

Napped and overslept until a little after 1 PM. Rescued my Costco box (dog food). The delivery person put it on the sidewalk because the dogs were out, but it was still there. Oliver is climbing all over me. I told him that he had breakfast and doesn’t get lunch, but he’s still hopeful. Ate lunch. I’m trying to decide what to do. Usually, I take a nap after lunch, but my first nap ran long. I should work on the bathroom. Maybe I should start on the bathroom and take a nap when I need a break.

Well, Bella came in around 2:30. Gracie is still refusing to come in. Bella wants company, so I guess that I’ll take a nap. Yeah, it’s a real sacrifice :) Bella is one tired pup. Napped. Got Gracie in at 5 PM. I told Bella that she doesn’t need to stay up with me, but she thinks that it’s her duty as The Dog. Fed us all. I had to carry Lily down from upstairs because the dogs are in. She nestled in but also was saying “No” clearly. (She doesn’t like being picked up. Oliver doesn’t mind it as much.)

I think that I’m procrastinating working on the bathroom because I’ll need to stand up. I did start on the bathroom with frequent breaks. Bella came over and yawned at me, and I told her to take a nap. But she thinks that she needs to fulfill watchdog duties.

Watched Season 2, Episode 1 of The Pitt. Fed the dogs and cats their nighttime crunchies. Bed time soon.

Communities

Mar. 28th, 2026 07:39 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Musing on an essay: the commodification and enshittification of community

The fact that community is becoming a wellness trend—often with an aesthetic and hefty price tag—is very telling to me. Very exposing of the larger game at play here. Because upon hearing “loneliness kills”, the impulse wasn’t to rebuild the free, accessible infrastructure of community, and ask why we’re all too exhausted and automized to connect. It was to commodify connection—sell us Community as a product: friendship coaches, curated community memberships, networking events with entry fees, apps that gamify making friends.

Read more... )

Science

Mar. 28th, 2026 02:06 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Why human babies are born helpless yet highly aware of the world

Because they cannot survive alone, human development unfolds through constant care. Feeding, carrying, soothing, and protecting do more than keep infants alive – they shape what babies see, hear, and experience.

A baby who cannot crawl into a group still becomes part of it, because caregivers bring the world closer. In that sense, dependence does not slow development. It creates the conditions that development grows from.



This explains a lot about why isolated or neglected infants -- in hospitals, orphanages, disadvantaged homes, etc. -- so often fail to thrive or outright die. They are deprived of the developmental needs for attention, interaction, and bonding with adults that would have supported healthy growth. The result is the same as when nutritional needs go unmet.

And the rest of the day is mine

Mar. 28th, 2026 11:30 am
susandennis: (Default)
[personal profile] susandennis
Volleyball was good and elbow coffee was not as bad as it could have been but now it's all done and the rest of the day is mine. There will be TV and knitting and crocheting and baseball and no doing anything I don't want to do.

I was sitting here playing a daily challenge on my phone and I heard all this yelling. I could see see where it was coming from. On a hunch, I went down to Bonny's apartment. Here's is on the very end of the building and overlooks a play field for the middle school that is just below Timber Ridge. She's always talking about the stuff going on on that field and, yep, today there is a wild lacrosse game going on with a fair number of sideline cheerers. Fun and nice to have the mystery solved.

Baseball slashes my normal book reading time. And I have a good one just checked out from the library so I think that may be the start of my afternoon. But first some lunch.

PXL_20260327_233232306

Birdfeeding

Mar. 28th, 2026 01:52 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is sunny and chilly.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/28/26 -- I did more work on the tomato cage.

EDIT 3/28/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 3/28/26 -- I sowed chives, catnip, and lemon bergamot in former fruit boxes that should make good upcycled pots.

EDIT 3/28/26 -- I fastened the tomato cage to the new picnic table.  It's much less wobbly now.

EDIT 3/28/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 3/28/26 -- I did some weeding around the forest garden.  There's a mayapple putting up leaves.  :D

I am done for the night.

Read "This is a prayer to Baba Yaga"

Mar. 28th, 2026 12:01 pm
ysabetwordsmith: (muse)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This is a prayer to Baba Yaga; this is a prayer of resistance.


This is a prayer for Baba Yaga. This is a prayer for Resistance.

This is a prayer for the magic of chicken feet, the heat of old hates, the way old bones hurt. This is a prayer for Resistance
.

Philosophical Questions: Government

Mar. 28th, 2026 12:52 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

If you were given the ability to reform how your country’s leaders were chosen and how they serve, what would you change?

Read more... )


Wildlife

Mar. 28th, 2026 12:41 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Incredible Video Shows Sperm Whales Come Together to Birth a Calf

The beautiful moment when an entire group of sperm whales came together to support the birth of a calf has, for the first time, been recorded in unprecedented detail.

Over several hours on 8 July 2023, scientists recorded two sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) family groups coming together in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Dominica, taking turns to assist with the birth and help the newborn calf stay at the surface to take its first breaths
.


Species survival depends on cooperation.

Japanese Maple?

Mar. 28th, 2026 12:20 am
days_unfolding: (Default)
[personal profile] days_unfolding
Overslept until 8:15 AM. I’m feeling groggy. I forgot to scan my music for my lesson, so I’ll need to sneak it in (done). I really need to nap at lunchtime, so I’ll need to jump into the shower right after work.

And now it’s back to cold (34F/1C). Mother Nature is having whiplash.

I think that I want to get a Japanese Maple for the front yard. I found one that I like. And planting trees is a Good Thing. Oh, I forgot to mention that I got two ferns for the side yard. It will be tricky to figure out the right spot without the other ferns though. I’ll work it out. I need to check on the little crabapple tree after the storm. It’s okay.

I’ve perked up a bit, so I’m going to shower at lunchtime. No, I changed my mind again and want a nap (done).

The crazy dogs don’t want to come in even though it’s cold. They finally came in at a quarter to 3. Gracie was busy bugging the cats upstairs, but she seems to have settled down. Right now, she’s lying on her back with her front paws in the air.

Showered after work. My singing lesson went well. We made it through a long song. My teacher said that we should be proud of ourselves.

Fed us all. Ran an errand. Watched Harry Potter. Now I need to give the beasties their crunchies and head for bed.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Our theme for this session was "World Cuisine." I wrote from 12 PM to 3:45 AM, so about 13 hours 45 minutes, allowing for lunch and supper breaks. I wrote 3 poem on Tuesday plus 3 later in the week.

Participation was up, with 7 comments on LiveJournal and another 40 on Dreamwidth. A total of 11 people sent prompts. There were no new prompters.


Read Some Poetry!
The following poems from the March 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl have been posted:
"Confident Guesswork and Improvisation"
"Nuff Respect"
"Refusing to Melt"

"To Understand Water" (Polychrome Heroics, October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl)


Buy some poetry!
If you plan to sponsor some poetry but haven't made up your mind yet, see the unsold poetry list from March 3. That includes the title, length, price, and the original thumbnail description for the poems still available.

This month's donors include: [Bad username or unknown identity: janetmiles>, <user name=], and Anthony Barrette. All sponsored poems from this fishbowl have been posted. There are 0 tallies toward a bonus fishbowl.


The Poetry Fishbowl has a landing page.
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
The following poems from the February 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. Poems may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my Dreamwidth profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods. There are still verses left in the linkback poems "Delight in Another," "A Sense of Weather Changes," "Ouroboros Insects," "The Loving Embrace of Night," "Generations of Cooks Past," "Homefree and Clear, " "One Bite at a Time," "Stars and Diamonds," "Mishpocha," "Changing Your Nature," and "Besa."


"An Expression That Crosses Boundaries"
Story Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016
Summary: Shiv and Pain's Gray make treats to celebrate Rutledge setting up a teleport hub, and they visit Kardal at the Syrian Foods truck.
236 lines, Buy It Now = $118

Shiv had heard that Rutledge
was going to get a teleport hub
.


"Foraging Forever"
Summary: Refugees of the Fall struggle to find enough food and cope with cultural differences.
195 lines, Buy It Now = $98

If there was one thing
they all had in common
after the Fall, it was hunger
.


"Walnut Park"
Story Date: Monday, June 6, 2016
Summary: Boss Blaster looks at an empty lot and imagines a food truck park.
505 lines, Buy It Now = $253

Just after breakfast,
Boss Blaster's phone rang.

Checking the screen, he saw
that it was Farrah Van Andel,
his usual real estate agent
.

(no subject)

Mar. 27th, 2026 09:04 pm
ravena_kade: (Default)
[personal profile] ravena_kade
Another week done. It has been a month since Dad's open heart surgery. Things are mostly going well. We are now trying to get a handle on his blood thinner meds. His blood is a tad thick so no green veggies until his blood is thinner again.

Dad is getting tired of my Sister and partner's silliness and self centeredness. At least he is seeing it. It is exhausting me. They are here until April 16. 20 days.

Tomorrow they all want to go to Ipswich...Dad wants me to go too so I will. Maybe we can stop in a few shops while we are up there.

I need to get my taxes done. Hopefully I can book that tomorrow. I hope I get a refund this year. I could use it since I am paying all the house utility bills.

Space Exploration

Mar. 27th, 2026 05:55 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Moon base and Mars! NASA makes exciting announcements

NASA is committed to achieving the near-impossible once again, to return to the moon [by early 2029], build a moon base, establish an enduring presence, and do the other things needed to ensure American leadership in space.


It's good to hear serious space aspirations again.

Read more... )

drive bys

Mar. 27th, 2026 03:52 pm
susandennis: (Default)
[personal profile] susandennis
I've lost a shit ton of money this month. I made a shit ton in January and February and all that is gone now. The only redeeming feature is that I just know this stock market downturn is a nightmare for Trump and I'm totally willing to make the sacrifice if it ruins his day/week - here's hoping for more.

I got my little tiny laptop all working. It was not easy. Finding mobile media that works across platforms was the first challenge. Then, turns out, this little bugger has a very odd processor. Gemini was just stumped until finally figuring it out and showing me how. It's now perfect. It's a little smaller than 10" and no one makes one this small any more. I have two - both very very old. They have not been eligible for updates in years. I'm not even sure how I was able to do it today but Gemini did let me know that they will only work until August of 2027.

I'll just enjoy while I can. I'm glad I didn't toss 'em out.

I'm looking forward to tonight's baseball game. In a week or so, I'll be frustrated with the coverage or the play or the broadcasters but right now I'm just glad to have baseball back.

Birdfeeding

Mar. 27th, 2026 12:57 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today is cloudy, cold, and damp. It stormed last night, so we finally got a good soaking rain.

I fed the birds. I've seen a male cardinal.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I cleared dead stems from the telephone pole garden.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I cleared dead stems from the septic garden.

I've seen a flock of sparrows.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I cut four poles to make a tomato cage. This is the general concept.

I've seen a flock of house finches.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I placed the poles around a large pot by the new picnic table garden, then started lashing them together. It needs more work and support, but at least it's started.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 3/27/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Good news - bad news

Mar. 27th, 2026 09:23 am
susandennis: (Default)
[personal profile] susandennis
Not long ago, I bought a very large tablet for two main uses - taking notes (it has a stylus attached) and watching baseball. I gave away my bedroom TV and only need to watch TV in there when the baseball game goes past my bedtime.

The tablet is really too big but after some trial and error, I found it works very nicely for taking notes. I use it to record the Food and Beverage meetings and it's excellent for that.

And, last night, I learned that it's an AMAZING bed TV. It is really too big but the too big comes in very handy when you are watching baseball. It's actually a much nicer watching experience than the giant TV in the living room.

Of course, last night, the first game of the year, I got to watch them lose which wasn't wonderful but it was nice to have baseball back.

I stayed up late so I slept in late-ish and then piddled around and didn't get to the pool until nearly 8:30. And then I swam extra long so now here it is nearly 10 am and I'm still naked in my swim robe and haven't even gotten the day started. And I don't care!

Retirement rocks.

Today's big ticket item is to revive my ohsovery old Acer tiny Chromebook. It's just a lovely size for having next to the couch but it is too old for chrome updates so won't sync with my other stuff. BUT I can install Chrome flex which will give it new life. So that's today's project.

But, first, I think I'll get un naked.

PXL_20260327_012540844

Follow Friday 3-27-26: Manga

Mar. 27th, 2026 12:18 am
ysabetwordsmith: A blue sheep holding a quill dreams of Dreamwidth (Dreamsheep)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
Today's theme is Manga.

Read more... )

Poem: "A Generous Impulse"

Mar. 26th, 2026 11:10 pm
ysabetwordsmith: Damask smiling over their shoulder (polychrome)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith
This poem came out of the March 17, 2026 Bonus Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from [personal profile] chanter1944. It also fills the "Sewing" square in my 3-1-26 card for the National Crafting Month Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by [personal profile] janetmiles. It belongs to the Iron Horses thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.

Read more... )

Storm Day

Mar. 26th, 2026 09:43 pm
days_unfolding: (Default)
[personal profile] days_unfolding
Overslept and got up at 8:30 AM. I’m having stomach cramps.

Overslept my nap at lunchtime. Amazon keeps pushing back a delivery of some stuff (dog food and hose), and I want to let the dogs out but am waiting for the delivery of the package. Sigh.

I screwed up at work and want to retire.

Holy cow. It’s currently 85F/29C. It’s jumped from spring to summer. I have my fan on upstairs.

Oliver walked on both my laptop keyboard and my keyboard plugged into the docking station for extra added bonus points :) Gracie is lying on her back with her belly and front paws in the air.

What the heck. I’m not getting incoming calls on my cell phone. I’ll try to get it fixed this weekend.

Got the dog food and hose. Let the dogs out. It’s starting to rain, so I don’t know how long they’ll stay out. Installed an emergency broadcast app on my phone in case of tornadoes.

Got the Urbana Park District summer catalog. No golf, but they have pickleball, so I need to look for a partner. Maybe I’ll try the AARP group that I belong to first.

Convinced the Dynamic Duo (Bella and Gracie) to come in and eat dinner. Rain helped.

It keeps raining and I’m tired. I was going to run some errands, but I think that I’ll go to bed early and get up early to run them instead. Watched The Pitt. Finished Season 1.

March 2026

S M T W T F S
123456 7
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425 2627 28
293031    

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Mar. 29th, 2026 11:41 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios